Ice making machine



March 20, 1951 R. D. RUSSELL ET A1. 2,545,558

ICE MAKING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I l a Q tw i gu, ,Y m rs f f 2 Il 8 "I, N

l |n 2E ro g i@ j E il' '2 s g N *g i uit" l l o my N l l1 o i l M W 1 mg m I mld E Q Q 1 1 i1 1W 1 t 59k',- l' `g 1 N .D a

C) 3 o 1 8 m g' m o s 1 q. g a gala 1 l I l* I F E '3 INVENTORS g 9 N R.D. RUSSELL W. L. IHLY ATTORNEYS Malh Z0, 1951 R. D. RUSSELL ET AL2,545,558

I ICE MAKING MACHINE Filed June 26, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E @uw Il l".

O 'o INVENTORS DN Ww R. o. R ELL' W. L.

ATTORNEYS Patented `Mar. 20, 1951 UNITED ICE MAKING MACHINE Robert D.Russell and William Le Roy lIhly,

c St. Petersburg, Fla. f

Application June 26, 1947, Serial No. 757,250

An object of the present invention is the provision of a novel devicecapable of Yproducing ice cubes of desired size and shape continuously.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a noveldevice capable of continuously producing ice cubes and automaticallydischarging the ice cubes when frozen.

V.Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novelautomatic ice making machine characterized by greater economy ofoperation and fully automatic control of the functioning cycle.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will becomeapparent from the fol-v lowing description, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings showing only a preferred embodiment of theinvention, in which: i

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an ice making machine embodying thepresent invention, shown partially in section and partially inelevation;

Figure 2 is a detail elevation ofthe control mechanism automaticallyeffecting the refilling of the water receptacles;

Figure 3 is a perspective .view of the centering disk and associatedfollowing mechanism Vcontrolling relling of the receptacles andinversion of the receptacle housing member;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the electrical control circuit forcontrolling the continuous automatic operation of the device.

The invention in general comprises a receptacle housing member mountedfor movement about a horizontal axis through its center, a plurality ofwater receptacles disposed in the upper and lower surfaces of thereceptacle housing member and opening in opposite directions, separatemeans associated with the receptacles in the .upper and lower surfacesof the housing member for circulating a refrigerant about thereceptacles, a conventional refrigerant compressor and condenser meanssupplying condensed refrigerant to the circulating means associated withthe lower receptacles, the refrigerant in this circulating i means beingcooled by ice disposed in the lower receptacles while defrosting thereceptacles sufcient to permitthe ice to drop out of these receptacles,means conveying the refrigerant from the circulating means associatedwith the lower receptacles through expansion means into the circulatingmeans associated with the upper ref ceptacles, effecting freezing ofwater in the upper receptacles, and means conveying the refrigerant fromthe circulating means associated with the upper receptacles back to thecompressor. Pressure control means are associated with the 7 claims.(c1. las-2) 2 i i compressor and with drive means coupled to thereceptacle housing member operative to invert the housing member whensuiicient refrigerant has been circulated through the system to freezethe water in the upper receptacles, and reverse the coupling of therefrigerant to and from the housing, to convey the refrigerant from thecondenser to the circulating means associated with the receptacles newlypositioned in lower position and the expanded refrigerant to the upperreceptacles. Means for controlling a source of water is likewiseprovided to rell the upper receptacles immediately upon inversion/of thehousing. By these means, water is continuously being frozen into icecubes in the upper receptacles and ice cubes frozen during the previouscycle of operation are being defrosted in the downwardly opening lowerreceptacles to permit these cubes to free them selves from thereceptacles.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following detaildescription of the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, inwhich like reference characters y'refer to corresponding partsthroughout the drawings. Referring particularly to Figure 1 showingAaside elevation of the ice making machine, a housing l0 is provided witha base II and a horizontal supporting plate l2disposed above the YbaseIl. A receptacle housing member I3, provided with a plurality of iceforming water receptacles I4 in one surface thereof and a secondgroup ofreceptacles I5 mounted in the opposite surface of the housing member I3and opening in the opposite direction, is mounted on a horizontal shaftI6 journalled at one end Il in a side of the housing I0 and at the otherin a supporting arm I8 mounted on supporting plate I2, such that the twogroups of receptacles I4 and I5 are diametrically disposed relative tothe shaft I6. The shaft I6 is mounted for rotation through progressivehalf-cycles to position the groups of receptacles Irland I5 alternatelyin an upwardly opening position, bymeans later to be described. Thereceptacles of each group, as the receptacles I4, are intercoupled forthe conveyance of water from each of the receptacles into its adjacentreceptacle by a plurality of tubular channels I9 of relatively smalldiameter with their axes disposed mutually parallel in a horizontalplane. Associated with the groups of receptacles I4 and I5 are chambers20 and 2I, respectively, adaptedV to circulate a liquid refrigerantcoupled thereto about the walls of the receptacles to effect cooling ordefrosting of the wateror ice in the receptacles. Insulation 22 isprovided in they receptacle housing disposed between the inner walls ofthe circulating chambers 20, 2l and the shaft I6 and surrounding theshaft to prevent heat losses from the refrigerant to the shaft I6.

Laterallydisposed from the receptacle housing I3 in coaxial relationwith the shaft I6 is a double port reversible coupling means 24comprising a substantially cylindrical shaped member 25 xed to the shaftI to rotate in conjunction w-iththe receptacle housing I3 and having a.pair of di ametrically opposed ports 25, 26 therein each associated withone group of receptacles I4, I. Coaxially disposed within the recessformed by the cylindrical member 25 is a stationary substantially ringshaped member 2:7:y having a. of diametrically opposed apertures orduets 285, 28 formed therein, the apertures 28,` 28 being positioned tocommunicate alternately with the openings 26, 25' in the member 25 onrotatie-na of the member 25 with the receptacle housing I3.Resilient/means such as. spring 29- is disposed against a surface of thestationary ring shaped member'Z'L tocontinuously urgethe mouthof theapertures 28.-, 28 against the adv-jacent` mouth of the ports 2.6, 251",and bellows-type sealing means 3G; disposed betweeny the adjacent sidesof the ring memberA 2 1 and cylindrical member 25, to prevent escape ofuid from'A the. coupling means` 'lhe arrangement described abovegivesplate 21 somewhat of a floating action, the spring 25) yieldinglyholdingthe plate against the member 25.. If, particularlyduring the rotation ofthe receptacle housing |23- between freezing cycles, the. pressuredierentia-l between input and: outlet lines becomesv tool great. theplate will yield, compressing spring 29\ and permit anequalization ofpressures, the refrigerant passing from one line to the other throughthe1 annular passageway between the sealing: bellows 3G. Immediatelyupon loweringE the diferentiat pressures the spring will forcethe platabackl upon. itsA seat on: the member. 25.

Coupled between each` of, the ports: 26,r 23 in theY cylindrical member25 and the circulating chamber adjacent the: group of receptacles withwhich the port is: associa-ted, for example` port 2liv and circulatingchamber 2I1- associa-ted with receptacles I4, are expansion; valves orcapillary tubes 3L: 34; of conventional: type employed in refrigerationunits,` and by-pass or check` valves 32,` 32 adaptedto' by-pass the.frefrigerant past the expansion valves 3l, 3I- when the direction of.flowy of the refrigerant isfrom` thecirculating chamber 2a'l`-, 2I3tothe-coupling means 24.. The apertures 28,; 278 are coupled togetherthrough al pipe 3.3.- coupling aperture,- 28! toa refrigerant collectingreceptacle 34. mounted on the' base II, aV receiver valve: 35 and;feedline 36 coupled to aperture 28, the receiver valve 35l beingemployedY to. control: the. flow of. refrigerant through the system.

Positioned,` coaxiallyony the shaft Iv6'- and later.- ally disposed fromtheirevceptacle housing I3 op posite the coupling meansA 24. isa seconddouble port reversible. coupling means 38 of identical construction tothe coupling member 24 ccmprising,` a rotatable.V cylindricalYshapedmember 39 having a pair of diametrically opposedY ports 45', 40!therein, eachv coupled through a. pipe 4l tothe circulating chamber2li;l 2 I: adjacent its associated group of` receptacles I4, I5., astationary ring shaped member 42l having a. diametrically opposedpai'r`of aperturee or duct's43gr43f positioned tobe: reversiblyJ coupled with.the ports 4B, 40" in cylindrical member 3,9, and springy 44 and'-belilows-type, sealing: means: 45, disposed to insure sealing. of theopenings; surroundingV the adj' acent portions. of the; portszw, 40andlaperturesi?, 43( to prevent'. leakage of refrigerant therefrom;

The upper aperture 4'3- in shaped member stopvalve: 47u

42 is coupled through a suction line 46 and stop valve 4l to areciprocating compressor 48 driven by an electric motor 45, both beingmounted 0n the base II. The compressed refrigerant is coupled. from thecylinder of the compressor 48 through a compressor discharge stop valve53, condenser coils 5I, adapted to be cooled by either water or air, anddischarge line 52 to the lower aperture 43 in the ring shaped couplingelement 42... rEhe. compressor 48, stop valves 4l and 53, andi condensercoils 5| may be of the type con- Ventionally employed in domesticrefrigerating units.

The path of the refrigerant through the abovedescribed system is as`follows. Starting from the collecting receptacle 34 containing asufficient quanti-ty of condensed and cooled liquid. refrigerant tocontinuously supply the system, liquid refrigerant is forced, duringoperation of the compressor 48', through: a receiver valve 35,. knowncommercially as a Ki-ng valve and controlling or regulating. the normalrate of flow of refrigerant fromy the receptacle Se, intol feed line 38through which. the refrigerant is conveyed into the upper aperture 28,of ring shaped element 2.1 of the reversible coupling. means 24, Theliquid refrigerantV supplied to the upper aperture 28 is then coupledthrough. the porty 26- iny cylindrical rotatableelement-25 of reversiblecoupling means 24.1,. when thel receptacle housing I3' and associatedreversible coupling means 24.- and 38 are in the positionA showninFigure l,- and expansion valve 3l associa-ted. therewith,u by by-passvalve 32 andy into the circulatingy chamber 25 .ad-jacent the: upward-lydisposed receptacles I4, the expansion' valve 3l being operative tocheck the flow of refrigerant.- through the feed linev 35 sufficient tovenable the' compressor pump 48 to maintain sufficient pressure in therefrigerating system to keep the refrigerant in liquid form on the wayto the expansionl valve 3L andto produce expansion of therefrigerant asit is introduced into the circulating chamber 20- to absorbthe largequantity of heat from' the water in the receptacles I-Ils proportionaltothe heat of vaporizationk of the refrigerant employed.` The expandedrefrigerant inthe circulating chamber 20, now* substantially ink gaseousstate, isv drawn through. the suction line 4I and port 4Ql of cylinedrical element-33f irr reversible coupling means 38, aperture. 43 ofYring shaped,k element 421- aligned wit-h'theport tlpandinto suction1ine45 through which thefrefrigerant is conveyed into the cylinder ofthe compressor @8i through suction; line The relatively' warm. and'gaseous refrigerant is.Y compressed by the: con'lpressor` 43 andpumpedthrough' compressrn'y discharge stop valve-5 intoF condenser'coils*y 5h. the refrigerant being converted again: intoY liquidi stateVby the combined action ofv the compressor 48. and" con'- denser 5I: The?liquid refrigerant is' then; conveyed from the condenser coils 5tthrough: pipe 5?. and; associated lower aperture. 43 inthe ring shapedlelementi 42:. of coupling: means 3,3; the port 4B? alignedtherewith,-landv coupling line lili secured: toi the. port 49', into the circulatingchamber 22|` adjacent the downwardly disposed receptacles I5'. Alfte'rthe fl-'rstv half: cycle, the downwardly disposed receptacles I5immediately after inversion ofT theJ receptacle# housing member I?,conta-inL freshly frozen: i'cev cubes, and passing the condensedliquid:refrigerant through the circulatih'gchamber 21' adjacent' the ice' cubesserves to-defiost the'receptacles f5' and ice cubes therein suiicienttopermitv the ice cubes to" drop' .switch .55 on the .compressor 48.

out of the downwardly disposed receptacles from their own weight, theliquidA refrigerant being operative, in the absence of expansion of therefrigerant into the circulating chamber through an expansion valve, toimpart sufficient heat to the receptacles I5 to release the icetherefrom, and the refrigerant being further cooled by the ice in thereceptacles I5. This cooled liquid refrigerant is conveyed from thelower circulating chamber through the by-pass valve 32 associatedtherewith to the port 26 of reversible coupling means 24, the by-passvalves 32, 32 as before described, being operative to convey therefrigerant past the expansion valves 3I, 3I when the direction of ow ofthe refrigerant through this section is from the circulating chamber tothe reversible coupling means. From the port 26 the refrigerant isconveyed through the aperture 28' of coupling means 24 aligned therewithand pipe 33 back tc the collecting receptacle 34, thus completing thecycle of the refrigerant through the system.

Means are provided, controlled by a low pressure control switch coupledto the compressor 48 and actuated by reduction of pressure in the returnline 46 after sufncient refrigerant has been forced through the uppercirculating chamber 26 to freeze the water in the upwardly disposedreceptacles I4, to invert the receptacle housing member I3 and therotatable cylindrical elements 25 and 39 of the reversible couplingmeans 24 and 38, and dispose the receptacles I4 containing the newlyfrozen ice cubes in a downwardly disposed relation, while thereceptacles I5 from which the ice cubes frozen on the previoushalf-cycle have been Vreleased are disposed upwardly. This meanscomprises an electric motor 56 mounted on a supporting stand 51 on thesupporting plate I2, the shaft 58 of theelectric `motor 56 having a worm59 thereon engaging a worm gear 66a secured to the shaft I6 to drive theshaft I6 and the rotatable elements of the coupling means 24 and l38 andthe receptacle housing member I3 through' a half-cycle vof rotation, onenergizing of the electric control circuit shown in Figure 4 by thepressure control switch 55.

The preferred arrangement of the electric control circuit and ancillarycontrol devices is shown in Figure e, to which reference will be had toigether with Figure 1, in the following description. Terminals 66 and66', coupled to a source of alternating current voltage, are provided,one ofthe terminals 66 being 4coupled directly to a terminal 6I on thecontrol box 62 of compressor ldriving motor 46. The Aother terminal 63of the control box 62 of compressor driving motor 49 is coupled to acontact 64 of the .pressure control The contact arm 65 of the switch 55is electrically coupled with the other .terminal of the alternatingycurrent voltage source, and is normally maintained bythe Vpressure atthe low side ofthe com- "pressor 48 in electrical contact with thecontact and the other side to the pressure under `test opposing theforce of the biasing means, in this in.;- .stance .the contact arm'being normally biased .into electrical' contact with the contact 66 andthebiasing force being overcome by normal presseres in th return une 4suntil the 'pressure drops due to decreased rate of evaporation of the/refrigerant when the water in the upper receptacles becomes frozen.Contact 66 of the pressure control switch .55 is coupled -to terminal6'I on control box 68 of electric motor 56 controlling the rotation ofthe shaft I6, vwhile the yother terminal 69 of the control box 68 iscoupled directly to the terminal 60 of the alternating current voltagesource. The terminal tI of the vcontrol box 68 for electric motor 56 isalso coupled to the terminal 60' `of the voltage source through acentering switch 10 of the micro switch type, the switch 'I6 beingnormally maintained in open position. This is eilected `by means of acam centering ring II mounted .on the rotatable cylindrical element 39of the reversible coupling means 38, shown in detail in `Figure 3, .andfa cam follower, such as `roller "I2 mounted on a plunger 'I3mechanically .coupled vto .the contact .arm 'I4 `.of the centeringswitch 16, the plunger being resiliently urged into extended position bysuitable resilient means, such as coil spring 15. The centering ring 1Iis provided with a pair of diametrically opposed,

recesses 1.6, I6 disposed so as to permit the plung- .er 1 3 to :beurged outwardly of the switch I6 when `the ports -in the rotatableelements of the reversi- :ble coupling means v24 and `33 are accurately.aligned with the apertures in the stationary elements of the couplingmeans 24 `and 38, thus openingr the switch 1.0.

Operation of the electrical control circuit is as follows: Assumingwater in the upper receptacles I4 is in process of being frozen, thusthat the pressure .switch 5.5 is vmaintained in position with the.contact arm 65 engaging contact 64, current yfrom vthe terminals 66, 66.of the voltage source Y is supp-lied to the terminals .6I and 63 ofelectric motor 49, driving the compressor 48 .and forcing .therefrigerant through the system. The contact fit of pressure switch beingopen, and the centering switch '16 in open position with the plunger .i3in extended position .in the recess 'I6 of the .centering ring 'II, nocurrent is supplied the and 'at lthe low side of the compressor 48 isreduced due to the reduced evaporation of refrigerant and the contactar-m 65 of the switch is -moved into its lnormally biased position incontact w-ith ythe contact 66 Vby the ,resilient `means thereinovercoming the refrigerant pressure c oulpled thereto,breaking thesupply circuit to the compressor driving -motor 49 and energizing themotor 55, to begin driving the `shaft I6 and rotatf -ing the rotatableelements of the reversible coupling means 24 Iand 33 and the receptaclehousing I3 through 180, bringing the receptaclesl I5 in upwardlydisposed position, and coupling'cir- -culating chamber 2| with the feedline 36 and suction line 46 previously A coupled to the circulatingchamber 26. To insure ,proper centering of Ithe Jports and apertures,since the pressure control switch 55 may `be shifted prematurely andAbreak 4thesupply circuit ofthe shaft driving motor 56, 'the raisedportion of centering `ring 'I I cams `the plunger I3 of -the microswitch 'i6 inwardly,

closing .themicro-switch 'I0 and thus the by-pass circuit therethroughto the supply lsource termifnal 66', A`by-passing the switch 55 vandinsuring that 1thesupply-circuit to the Ymotor 56 is maintained closeduntil the ports and apertures in the coupling means 24 and 38 areproperly aligned, as determined by the position of the recesses 16, 16in the centering ring 1|. During this inversion of the receptaclehousing I5, the pressure at the low side of the compressor 48 againincreases suiiiciently for the contact arm 65 to overcome the biasnormally urging it into contact with the contact 55, and again engagescontact 64 to reenergize the compressor motor 49 to start another cycleof operation.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, means are provided to refill theupwardly disposed receptacles immediately upon inversion of thereceptacle housing I3, comprising, a cam centering ring 80 mounted onthe rotatable cylindrical element of the reversible coupling means 24,substantially identical to the centering ring 1I on coupling means 38,having a pair o f recesses SI, Si correspondingly positioned in thecentering ring 85. A plunger 82 having a follower roller 83 riding onthe centering ring 8), and resiliently urged thereagainst by spring 84,controls a valve S in the water supply line B coupled to a suitablesupply of water and a receptacle tank 81 disposed on a side of thehousing Il! and above the receptacle housing I3, the plunger 82 beingoperative on being cammed inwardly toward the valve 85 by theraisedportion of the centering ring SE] during rotation of the shaft I5in inverting the receptacle housing i3 to open the valve S5. Pivoted toa lug 8S on the plunger B2 is one end of a lever member SS, pivotedintermediate of its length to the tank 81, as at 95, and at its otherend to a wire link 9 l, the wire link SI being loosely secured to levermember 89 to provide some freedom of movement of the wire link 9|vertically as well as complete freedom of rotation of the wire link 9|in the horizontal plane. The other end of the wire link @lis secured toan arm 92 controlling opening and closing of the valve of a faucet 93mounted on the tank 81 and disposed above the receptacle housing I3 todirect water into one of the receptacles I4, I5 when disposed upwardly.The faucet valve and link are so related as to effect opening of thevalve of the faucet 93 when the wire link 9| is drawn to the left, asshown in Figure 2, by counterclockwise rotation of the lever B9 onprojection of the plunger 82 into one of the recesses BI, 8i Thus,during rotation of the shaft i5, the plunger is camined inwardly of thevalve by the raised portion of the centering ring 80, opening the valve85 in the water supply line S5 to admit a suitable quantity of water tothe tank 81, the amount admitted being adjusted by a manual controlvalve ed inserted in the supply line 85 between the valve 85 and tank 81to just ll the upwardly disposed group of receptacles I4, I5. Thismovement of the plunger likewise pivots the lever 8a to close the valveon the faucet 93 through link SI and arm 92, and prevent escape of Waterthrough the faucet S3 during rotation of the shaft I6. When the plungerS2 enters the recess BI, 8| on centering ring 8G on proper positioningof the receptacle housing i3, the valve 35 in the supply line B6 isagain closed, and the valve of faucet 93 opened to direct the Watermetered into the tank 81 during rotation of the shaft i6 into thereceptacle in receptacle housing I3 disposed therebelow.

In the cyclic operation of the device, starting from a point in time atwhich the group of receptacles I4 have just been brought into theupwardly disposed position shown in Figure 1 by rotation of the shaft I5by the motor 56, the faucet Valve at 93 is opened by the plunger 83entering one of the recesses 8|, 8i' in the centering ring 8D, allowingthe water metered into the tank 81 through valves 85 and 94 to flow intoone of the receptacles I4 and through the interconnecting channels i9into the other receptacles I4. At the same time, the motor 49 for thecompressor 48 is re-energized, driving the compressor and forcingrefrigerant through the circulating channel 2l, where the ice cubes inthe receptacles I5 frozen on the previous cycle are released from thereceptacles I5 by the defrosting action of the refrigerant, while therefrigerant is cooled by the ice. The cooled refrigerant is conveyedthrough f the collecting receptacle 34, receiver valve 35 and feed lineB to the expansion valve 3l, 3l' coupled to the upper aperture 28 in thestationary ring element 21 of the double port coupling means 24, wherethe refrigerant is expanded through the circulating chamber 2G adjacentthe receptacles I4 for a suflicient time to freeze the water in thereceptacles i4, from whence it is conveyed through the suction line 45back to the compressor 48. When the water in the receptacles I4 isfrozen, the pressure control switch 55 coupled to the compressor isactuated, opening the supply circuit to the compressor driving motor 49,as above described, and closing the supply circuit to the shaft drivingmotor 55, energizing the shaft driving motor 55 to rotate the shaft I6through 189", this through the camming of the plunger 'I3 coupled to theContact arm 14 of the micro switch 'Iii by-passing the switch 55 closingthe supply circuit of the motor 5S until the plunger 13 again contacts arecess 15, 15' in the centering ring 1I, again opening the supplycircuit to the motor 56. In the meantime, pressure control switch 55 hasagain been actuated to reenergize 'the compressor motor 49 and beginpumping the refrigerant through the refrigerating system. During therotation of the shaft, the valve in the water supply line 86 is openedby the camming of the plunger 82 by centering ring SQ, permitting ametered amount of water to flow into the tank 81 suficient to fill thereceptacles I5 when brought into upwardly disposed position.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that a novel icemaking machine has been provided which is fullyautomatic in operation,capable of continuously producing ice cubes of desired size and shape,and characterized by very economical operation by producing a markedcooling of the compressed and condensed refrigerant in passing therefrigerant past the receptacles in which ice remains from the previouscycle of operation, and by the same operation defrosting the downwardlydisposed receptacles containing ice sucient to release the ice cubestherefrom.

While I have particularly shown and described one particular embodimentof the invention, it is distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto, but that various modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is desired,therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as areimposed by the prior art and are set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. An automatic ice making machine comprising, a rotatable supportprovided with a plurality of circulation chambers, ice cube formingcells in heat exchange relation with each of said circulation chambers,the cells being arranged in oppositely opening pairs relative to theaxis of rotation of said support, means for rotating said' support tobring said cells into upwardly opening position, refrigeration means,means for coupling warm liquid refrigerant therefrom to each chamberwhen the cells in heat exchange relation therewith open downwardly,means for conducting refrigerant from the chamber associated with thedownwardly opening ice cube cells through expansion means to the chamberassociated with upwardly opening cells.

2. An automatic ice making machine comprising, a rotatable supportprovided with a pair of chambers, an independent set of ice cube formingcells in heat exchange relation with each of said chambers, the cells ofthe rst set opening in one direction and the cells of the other setopening in an opposite direction, means for rotating said support todispose said sets of cells successively in upwardly opening position,means for coupling warm liquid refrigerant to each chamber when thecells in heat exchange relation therewith open downwardly, means forconducting refrigerant from the chamber associated with the downwardlyopening ice cube cells through expansion means to the chamber associatedwith upwardly opening cells.

3. An automatic icemaking machine comprising, a rotatable supportprovided with a pair of chambers, an independent set of ice cube formingcells in heat exchange relation with each of said chambers, the cells ofthe rst set opening in one direction and the cells of the other setopening in an opposite direction, means for rotating said support todispose said sets of cells successively in upwardly opening position,water supplying means overlying said support and means intercoupledtherebetween to actuate said water supplying means upon rotation of aset of cells into upwardly opening position, refrigeration means, meansfor coupling warm liquid refrigerant therefrom to each chamber when thecells in heat exchange relation therewith open downwardly, means forconducting refrigerant from the chamber associated with the downwardlyopening ice cubeA cells through expansion means to the chamberassociated with upwardly opening cells.

4. An automatic ice making machine comprising, a rotatable supportprovided with a pair of chambers, an independent set of ice cube formingcells in heat exchange relation with each of said chambers, the cells ofthe first set opening in one direction and the cells of the other setopening in an opposite direction, means for rotating said support todispose said sets of cells successively in upwardly opening position,water supplying means overlying said support and means intercoupledtherebetween to actuate said water supplying means upon rotation of aset of cells into upwardly opening position, a refrigeration circuitcomprising a refrigerant liquefying unit, means for conducting warmliquid refrigerant therefrom to each chamber when the cells in heatexchange relationship therewith open downwardly, refrigerant expansionmeans, means to conduct refrigerant from the chamber associated with thedownwardly opening ice cube cells, through the expansion means to theother chamber and a suction line for returning expanded refrigerant tothe liquefying means.

5. An automatic ice making machine comprising, a rotatable supportmounted for rotation 10 about a horizontal axis and provided with a pairof chambers, an independent set of ice cube forming cells in heatexchange relation with each of said chambers, the cells of the iirst setopening in one direction and the cells of the other` set opening in anopposite direction, means for notating said support to dispose each ofsaid sets of cells in upwardly open position, reversible double-portcoupling means coupled with said support rotating means operative tosupply a liquid refrigerant to the chamber in heat exchange relationshipwith downwardly opening cells to defrost the cells and release icetherefrom, second reversible port coupling means coupled with saidsupport rotating means operative to circulate refrigerant from thechamber associated with downwardly opening cells through expansion meansand into the chamber in heat exchange relationship with upwardly openingcells to freeze water in the upwardly opening cells, said supportrotating means having means responsive to refrigerant pressure to rotatesaid rotatable support and said reversible coupling means through a halfcycle when sufl'lcient'refrigerant has been supplied the upwardlydisposed cell to freeze water therein, and water supplying meansoverlying cells disposed in upwardly opening position and actuated bysaid rotating means to refill the upwardly open cells with waterimmediately upon disposition of a set of cells in upwardly openrelation.

6. In an automatic ice making machine, the

combination recited in claim 5, wherein the reversible double portcoupling means supplying said refrigerant comprises a stationary,vertically disposed pair of refrigerant conveying ducts, the lower ofwhich is coupled to a source of liquid refrigerant and the upper to arefrigerant suction line, and a rotatable pair of vertically spacedports each coupled with one of the chambers in heat exchange relationwith a set of cells and rotated in conjunction with said support to bealigned with the stationary ducts.

'7. In an automatic ice making machine, the combination recited in claim5 wherein the second reversible double port coupling means comprises astationary, vertically disposed pair of refrigerant conveying ductscoupled together through refrigerant collecting means and flowregulation means, and a rotatable pair of vertically spaced ports eachcoupled with one of said chambers associated with said cells throughexpansion means and means operative to conduct refrigerant around saidexpansion means when the direction of ow of the refrigerant is away fromsaid chambers, and means coupledl between said rotatable ports and saidrotating means to rotate said ports in conjunction with said support andalign said ports with said stationary ducts.

ROBERT D. RUSSELL. -WILLIAM LE ROY IHLY.

` REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,403,275 Gilliam July 2, 19462,407,058 Clum Sept. 3, 1946 2,414,264 Kirkpatrick Jan. 14, 19472,443,203 Smith June l5, 1948 2,493,900 Schaberg Jan. 10, 1950

